Thursday, February 25, 2016

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has called for the Government to incentivise industries to build a strong Singaporean core and review the Employment Pass criteria in view of the varying manpower needs of different sectors, among its slew of Budget 2016 recommendations submitted today (Feb 25) to the Ministry of Finance.

Are you ready to wage WAR against those who are defying safety for workers! That’s the opening remark of the General Secretary Bro. J. Solomon to 26 participants attending a one day OSH seminar on 23 February 2016.

He expressed his concern of the many incidents, accidents and occupational illnesses in the workplace of certain banks who have compromised safety and health for profits.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was enacted on 25 February 1994 by the Duli Yang Mulia Seri Paduka Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the advice and consent of the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat in Parliament.

Despite 21 years it is sad to see that there are significant number of employers who are not securing safety, health & welfare of persons at work.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Putrajaya's recent statement that Malaysia would not take in all 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers proved it was not telling the whole truth on the issue, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) said today.

“The only question came to our mind was why the sudden U-turn in the government’s stand.

“The latest statement clearly shows that government is not telling the true picture about recruitment of foreign workers," the trade union federation said in a statement.

MTUC was referring to Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot's statement that the 1.5 million figure was the number of workers registered with Bangladesh authorities to be sent to different countries. Riot had told a press conference that the Bangladesh government was supplying labour to 139 countries, including Malaysia. But previous statements by Malaysian officials have said that the 1.5 million workers would be brought to Malaysia in stages over three years.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) sent a memorandum to the relevant ministries today in order to inform them of their grouses over the decision to accept 1.5 million foreign labour from Bangladesh. Astro AWANI's Hafiz Marzukhi reports

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) called today for the enactment of a law to protect pregnant workers, after a court slashed an award of RM300,000 in damages to RM30,000 for a woman in a landmark gender discrimination lawsuit against the government.

MTUC secretary-general N. Gopal Kishnam also said Malaysia should make it illegal for prospective employers to ask job candidates if they are pregnant.

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the foreign workers issue, and to scrap the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers.

In a statement today, the trade union federation said the government should do what was right for the people of Malaysia.

It said it could not accept the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers over the next three years, via the government-to-government's memorandum of understanding.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

The government should not allow too many foreign workers into industries considered dirty, dangerous and difficult (3D) as this may eventually deprive locals of such jobs, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general N. Gopal Kishnam said yesterday.

He said this was why the government should tighten rules on migrant workers.

“The presence of migrant workers has made it more difficult for locals to obtain jobs in 3D industries even if they wanted to,” he added.

The Penang branch of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has criticised the argument put forward by Umno Minister Azalina Othman that foreign workers can work longer hours than Malaysians, as the very concept was “going against labour rights.”

Its secretary K Veeriah said Azalina seemed to suggest that foreign workers could be exploited to work for long hours without stress.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of increased levy for foreign workers would be easily solved if employers make a conscious efforts to employ locals and reduce their dependence on foreigners. Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Secretary-General Gopal Kishnam told Bernama today that the problem persisted because employers were over dependent on foreigners and refused to provide job opportunities for locals. “At present there are more than 2.1 million registered and an estimated four million unregistered foreign workers in Malaysia.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

While the government's plan to legalise the country's foreign workers without permits (Pati) have drawn criticism from social media users, trade unions and analysts describe it as a positive move.

They said the rehiring and relocation programme would help the authorities to determine the exact number of foreigners working illegally in this country, as well as monitor their activities more effectively.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had announced the programme when presenting the revised Budget 2016 on Jan 28, saying that it would enable illegal foreign workers to obtain valid work permits and help fulfil industry needs.

To any friends traveling in Cambodia, please DON'T use Capitol Bus Service until they end the violence and respect the right to organize. CTWF union has been busted, arrested and beaten with hammers, metal bars and sticks. Video:

Labor protests usually heat up around November, the time when the following year's minimum wages are set. Unions nevertheless mobilized thousands to march Saturday through Jakarta near one of the nation's presidential palaces. Their grievances included mass layoffs.

Under a newly drafted memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bangladeshi government, Malaysia will soon see the plan for 1.5 million foreign workers recruited over the next three years pushed through, reports said today.

According to Dhaka Tribune, the workers will enter Malaysia under the G2G (Government-to-Government) Plus scheme which allows them employment in construction, service, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Speaking at a joint press conference in Jakarta today, ITUC and IndustriALL general secretaries Sharan Burrow and Jyrki Raina urged the Indonesian government to return to the bargaining table with unions for the discussion on a minimum living wage.

The three per cent reduction in Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions by employees will not help them financially and is counter-productive in the long run, said the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC).

The increase in foreign workers’ levy is welcome, but only if it is the employers who are paying it, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general N Gopal Krishnam said.

Speaking to FMT, Gopal said it was unfair for employees to be asked to pay the levy as, rightfully, it is the employer who should pay the levy.

The foreign workers’ levy was introduced by the government in 1992 because of the expenses incurred by the government in providing general facilities such as clinics, roads and other public facilities enjoyed by the rest of Malaysian citizens.